Abstract

Background:
Testosterone deficiency is associated with adverse cardiac remodeling, oxidative stress, and inflammation.

Aim:
To investigate the physiological, biochemical, and histological effects of cobalamin (vitamin B12) supplementation on cardiac physiology in castrated rabbits.

Methods:
A total of 24 male rabbits were divided into three groups: control (C), castrated (CA), and castrated with cobalamin supplementation (CA + C). Biochemical markers, including cardiac troponin I (cTnI), heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP), homocysteine, glutathione (GSH), interleukin-3 (IL-3), galectin-3 (Gal-3), translocator protein (TSPO), and thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), were measured using ELISA. Myocardial tissue was histologically evaluated alongside GAPDH and ANP gene expression analysis using quantitative real-time reverse-transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). Statistical significance was set at p value < 0.05.

Results:
Castration significantly increased the levels of cardiac markers, such as cTnI, H-FABP, homocysteine, IL-3, and Gal-3, while reducing GSH levels (p

Key words: Cardiac physiology; Cobalamin; Gene expression; Inflammation Testosterone deficiency; Oxidative stress.